IPv6 Deployment

CCIT IPv6 Deployment Page

Welcome to CCIT web-based resource for Clemson's University IPv6 deployment. The University has obtained an IPv6 allocation and our core network services are in the process of preparing Clemson's servers and clients for the deployment of IPv6 to our departments and colleges. The information below is for students, faculty, and employees wanting to understand the technicalities behind the deployment.

Background on IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 has approximately four billion IP addresses (the sequence of numbers assigned to each Internet-connected device). The explosion in the number of people, devices and web services on the Internet means that IPv4 has run out of space. IPv6, the next-generation Internet protocol, which provides over four billion times more space, will connect the billions of people not connected today and will help ensure the Internet can continue its current growth rate.

IPv4 will not stop working but IPv4 addresses with not be available for new devices. The only way we will be able to connect those new devices will be IPv6.

IPv6 is the next generation Internet Protocol (IP) address standard intended to supplement, and eventually replace, the IPv4 protocol most Internet services use today. To help ensure the continued rapid growth of the Internet as a platform for innovation, IPv6 tackles some of IPv4's shortcomings - most notably a limited amount of remaining addresses. While the technical foundations of IPv6 are well established, significant work remains to deploy and begin using IPv6 capabilities.

Clemson Participates in World IPv6 Day

On June 8, 2011, several authorities agreed to participate in a world-wide effort to demonstrate IPv6 capabilities. Here is an information page about the global effort. Clemson University participated in that effort in the following ways:

On June 7, 2011, www.clemson.edu underwent a test to respond to IPv6 requests and succeeded.

CCIT Network Services conducted a session, "Ten things you need to know about IPv6", on June 8, 2011 to discuss IPv6. Dan Schmiedt discussed the reason for the change and why it is important to Clemson users.

Deployment Statuses

Here are some possible standards/terms to use when discussing Clemson's IPV6 deployment:

IPv6 Ready – this server or workstation would suffer no ill effects if it were on an IPv6-routable network

IPv6 Connected - your area is routing IPv6 and your client is running dual stacks for IPv4 and IPv6

We will elaborate more on terminology in the future.

Clemson Deployment Milestones

Here is the current list of Deployment Milestones we are promoting to server admin and support staff. Clemson has created an IPv6 Task Force to facilitate the transition. More Milestones will be made available as further details about Clemson's deployment are finalized.

TENTATIVE: All server admins need to be continue to become IPv6 Ready .

All Clemson University network devices should have IPv6 enabled. All client images and installs should have the following client settings set (IPv6 Ready):

IPv6 Tunneling should be turned OFF

IPv6 IP Stack should be ENABLED

IPv6 Capable DNS will be enabled.

All new software applications and operating systems should be able to use IPv6.

How will this affect me? What can I do to help?

We will not simply stop using IPv4 addresses but during the transition, devices will need to use both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (you will hear this referred to as the use of "dual stacks"). This transition should be mostly invisible to the user since it happens as a deep enough level in the communication between devices.

Resources

Here is some resources for more information about World IPv6 Day and Clemson's IPv6 Deployment: